Based on these figures, only 1 out of 8 American families are living the dream. Yours truly would be excluded.

To compute the numbers, the author determined first to define the American Dream. Based on surveys and interviews, the American Dream became defined as “economic security, finding and pursuing a rewarding career, leading a healthy and personally fulfilling life, being able to retire in comfort, and opportunity for their children to live a better life.” All good things.

With this as the goal, the actual cost of the American Dream was parsed into several broad categories:

The article has continued to grow in popularity since its publication on Friday. It has been shared via social media thousands of times and has been reprinted in countless publications around the world: Detroit, Seattle, New Orleans, Great Britain, just to name a few.

This is unfortunate. Not only because the article is untrue, but because it is harmful.

For starters, consider the math. The notion that a family of four must own a $275K home, drive an SUV, spend $5K on summer vacation, and eat $315 worth of food every week is foolishness. The presumption that security and fulfillment and happiness can only be found in the ownership of these luxuries is a shameful misrepresentation of our heart’s greatest desires. I know countless people who live fulfilled and content lives on far less—all the while planning on a comfortable retirement and providing opportunity for their children.

Nevertheless, it is not the math that worries me so much and prompted this public response. Instead, it is the unintended (or maybe intended) consequence of this article. And my only hope is that these words will find their way into the minds of those who need to read them.

The bold proclamation that an annual income of $130K is required for the American Dream carries with it serious consequences:

It breeds discontent. 7 out of 8 American families are being told their lives would be more fulfilling if they had more money. As a result, our standards become redefined. While we may have been living a perfectly content life with far less annual income, we are forced to reconsider the possibility that we may be missing the really good life—and even worse, that we may never fully attain it.

It breeds jealousy and envy. 7 out of 8 American families are left out of the American Dream, left only to wish and dream it could be theirs. Soon, comparison begins to settle in our minds. The presence of bigger houses, faster cars, and corner offices become more apparent than ever before. And we begin to ask ourselves, “Why do they get to live the American Dream and not us?” Jealousy has taken root.

It breeds resentment. When jealousy and envy take hold of a heart, resentment is soon to follow. Not only do we wish we had what they had, but we soon become bitter towards those who have more. And whether we are in the 87.5% or the 99%, resentment will always steal more joy from us than it will from the other person.

The American Dream does not require $130K/year. To claim that it does, is to grow discontent, jealousy, and resentment in many American families. Indeed, this article harms us as individuals.

And it harms us as a nation because it is based on a faulty definition of the American Dream.

Every summer, we celebrate Independence Day in America. Towns and Cities all across our great Republic are united in their celebration: 250 years ago, our forefathers stood up against what they believed to be unfair laws and unfair taxation without representation.

These are the words they chose to boldly declare their independence on July 4th, 1776:

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness—that to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men.

This, then, is the American Dream. It always has been and must continue to be so: that each of us would be allowed to experience life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And government would not stand in the way of these pursuits.

As Americans, we are free to pursue our own happiness—however we decide to define it—in whatever lawful manner we desire. And those of us who have chosen to define happiness and security apart from $250K mortgages and SUVs in the garage are free to do so. Because there are greater and more important pursuits available to us than material possessions.

This is the American Dream. And it costs far less than $130K/year.

About Joshua Becker

Writer. Inspiring others to live more by owning less.WSJ Bestselling author of The More of Less.

Comments

I understand your point, Joshua, but I guess I look at things a little differently than most people. I know full well that most American families don’t make $130k + a year. Therefore, instead of being jealous, my instinct is to feel right at home with my fellow Americans. There’s no point in keeping up with the Joneses when I know the Joneses can’t keep up with themselves! That realization is very freeing.

What really IS the “American dream”? Why is it so important for some families to “keep up with the Joneses”? I think the American dream is just like any other dream: it’s personal. What’s a dream for one family could be a nightmare for another family. I live in a very affluent So. Calif. beach city and we’ve lived here for over 20yrs. Seeing our city change over the years has been hard: the old surfers die-off or are bought out, the trust-fund kids move in and bulldoze any house that has under 3 bathrooms and 2 kitchens….I AM NOT KIDDING! Our family’s only extravagance is our children and their education. Our newest vehicle is 10yrs old. I am the help: the maid, the gardener, sometimes the plumber. If families STOPPED looking over their fence to compare what they think their neighbors have, we’d all be better off! Less consumer debt, less worry, less envy=more happiness! Look inside your family and figure out what YOUR American Dream is, don’t let someone else select it for you.

So glad you wrote this. I live in Manhattan beach and it sounds like you are close. :-) I grew up in the Midwest and have had quite an adjustment since I moved to so cal 15 Years ago. Rejecting the status quo here is hard and comparison breeds contempt. I am happy and grateful…even if others would deem my house a tear down. Haha

“What we think they have” What a wonderful way to put it. It is not easy to compare our own happiness and success on the perceived happjness and success of our neighbors.

Sure, the family next door could have a beautiful wife, perfect kids, a big house, the newest cars. But what if ther “happiness” comes with a strained and loveless marriage, a workaholic father who drinks at night, a depress despondent mom, a daughter who cuts, and a son who acts out because negative attention is better than none. They could have 3 mortgages on the house to pay for the new cars and the pool. They may be in default on the second mortgage and in danger of losing it all.

Sure looks happy…..

I am content with no debt, living in our modest mobile home in the country, cuddling with my dogs and husband at night.

You nailed it. We just upgraded to a 1700sq foot ranch for our family of 5 and I’m happier than a pig in slop. It will be our forever home. It’s enough. I know people that have homes twice as big and exude nothing but negative vibes. No thanks!

Elizabeth, we finally gave up and left Encinitas for that very reason. Not only has the town been decimated and yuuppified, locals have been priced out. Even if you have your house, your kids will never be able to live in their hometown. Eventually, I gave up my life and relocated to the mountains of SC/NC. My kids thrived and now they’re about grown and want to live in our town here. So the family will all be near enough to see daily. That’s what is important.

I’m saddened to hear this about Encinitas. The quaint surf town with its unique houses (including the super neat bedazzled boat houses) is what drew me to vacation there about 12 years ago. I loved the idea of coastal living… guess that vibe is gone. :(

I’m actually content living near Lake Michigan… I’ve come to appreciate it over the years. :)

I’m very confused. The author of this article is basically saying that because people’s feelings would be hurt, the article detailing the American dream by USA today must be wrong.

Guess what. It’s a dream. People dream of the lottery and it won’t happen for anyone but an extremely tiny percentage ( more like you will be stuck by lightning) but people still play. A dream by nature is somewhat unattainable or else we wouldn’t call it a dream.

You Americans are more brain washed than the Russians ever were. Land of the free. American dream. What utter BS. So people in other countries are not free? Don’t have dreams? Look through the propaganda people. It is made by the ones who stand to benefit from it. The rest of the suckers buy the BS and willingy ruin themselves trying to fill their pockets. Open your eyes and see your country for what it is. No health care for every body and no free education. Rich and advanced country…..yeah sure!!!! That is not the definition of prosperous and advanced in Europe. Free to drive a car everywhere or forced to drive a car everywhere because of crappy public transport. Open your eyes Americans. Travel and see for yourself. Don’t let them pull the wool over your eyes. Think, how free are you to choose really. What are your choices? Time to wake up USA.

Totally agree with you, Josh. The article does nothing but promote discontentment to those of us that don’t begin to make that much $$ but have a wonderful fulfilled life! Again, our joy doesn’t come from things!

Many people are living well without having the purportedly required $130K in annual income but if they want more and their incomes will not permit them to afford more, what are they likely to do? I think some will buy those things anyway, and borrow the money to do so. I do not recall, but did that article mention $10K in credit card debt as part of the so-called American Dream??

I see lots of evidence of people striving for the American Dream laid out in the _USA Today_ article. So many families, who have plenty of money coming in, still have both parents working in order to buy all the stuff and/or to maintain some sort of image.

I reckon a lot of those families are in debt as well… basically chasing their tails.

Of course we all have free will. But social pressures can be tough to ignore. I believe it’s really important that we choose who we listen to and hang out with.

While I agree that most of this is ridiculous, the housing cost outlined in the article doesn’t seem far off to me. Utilities costs alone can often add up to over $400/month in some places. I live in an area where a winter heating bill can run $500-600 or more. That’s almost half of the $1400/month cost outlined. That’s not *just* a mortgage payment. It’s everything related to housing costs, including maintenance if you own the home.

Around here, taxes and insurance could run you $200-500+/month in some towns, add in a mortgage payment that amounts to a few hundred a month and all your maintenance and utility costs, and you could pretty easily hit that $1400/month number without owning anything even close to resembling a $275k home.

Even if you rent, it adds up quick. Rent for a 2 bedroom apartment in my area can run $700-$800/month without utilities. Add in the utilities and you’re looking at $1200/month.

The grocery budget is the one that really strikes me as funny in the USA Today article. I eat mostly organic, high-quality foods and my grocery bill rarely exceeds $50/week (it’s usually closer to $35). Even if I quadrupled that to fit a family of 4, it’s still nowhere near what the “American dream” calls for.

Modest houses in my area start at 450k. I’m lucky. I bought 27 years ago at 130k. I have 50k left. But my prop tax is 600 a month. My utility bills do indeed reach 400 a month in winter (elec only). And my groc bill is often 500+ a month. I do not make 130k but not far from it. I do not have luxuries, don’t take vacations, and can’t afford to fix up my 40 yo house. I live smart. I have no debt other than the house. But I see a time coming when I will loose my income and health insurance and not be able to replace it. I will be toast. You just can’t make it these days, never mind keeping up with the Joneses. And it’s going to only get worse. I don’t know what those people do for a living who are tearing down modest houses to make way for their 2 kitchen minimansions, but their income is not accessible to the majority of people. The American dream is dead from what I can see.

I was just telling a friend at lunch today that I have fallen out of love with the American Dream. Or at least the current definition of it. I want far more for my children and grandchildren than what that dream has to offer.

Grateful for your blog in response to this article. It is unfortunate and sad that so many people cling to money as happiness. Certainly, money is necessary to provide some basic needs. However, by no means is the the epitome of what happiness brings.

Family, friends, love, community, self awareness…just a few of the things that bring true happiness. Just hearing the concept ‘American Dream’ creates a ill feeling in my stomach. It is not the American dream that I want. It is the love I receive from family, friends, community and my own self-awareness and self consciousness that I want.

Money means a roof over your head. I have a cousin who, this very weekend, is garage saleing everything she owns because she and her children have been evicted from her home. She has been ill and not been able to work for 2 years. Her house was sold for pennies on the dollar on the courthouse steps. Her family will be torn apart. If not for her father she’d be on the street. It always surprises me when people say money isn’t everything. It certainly can be.

I never have and never will have that amount of annual income. Put two kids through college, no student loans as a single mom, no public assistance and loved every minute of it. I am now retired, live conservatively but lack for nothing. This estimate is inaccurate from my point of view.

I generally agree with this article, although it certain parts of this country a $275k residence is very basic and also it is very difficult to eat on less than $300 a week if you try to shop for healthy food, especially of the organic kind. Those numbers probably are pretty accurate. I totally agree with all the other so called ‘requirements’ that you must spend money on in order to be perceived as ‘livin’ the dream’. Total materialism. Not for me. To each their own.

I would have to agree. My husband and I make far far less and have two children. We are very happy and contented. We have a bit of a struggle every now and then, but we are truly happy. I wouldn’t Chang my life. We work hard, maybe harder then the next guy. In the end we appreciate what we where working for even more. My american dream is to have a happy healthy safe family. Living were we can walk down the street and not be worried that something may happen to our children. Living in a place were I can send my kids to school and know they are safe and learning. Thank you for your article:)

I also agree that the housing costs are pretty accurate. Any house in the northeast outside of a major metro area is going to cost that much plus high taxes, high home heating oil and fuel oil. Rents for a one bedroom are almost the size of a mortgage payment.

We try to live a minimalist lifestyle because it appeals to us and because the high cost of living requires it too! We have a child with a serious chronic illness and we need our good medical coverage that my husband’s job provides.

Our daughter is in a state university with a good scholarship and has taken the federal loans offered and still half our paychecks go to her tuition so she doesn’t come out with a grand in loans! Our house is paid off last year but we have taken just 2 vacations in the last 30 years.

I think the harm in this article is that it infers people are so into stuff and living an expensive lifestyle that they have enormous debt and maybe that is true for some. But we find the basic cost of living so high we can just meet our needs. Happily we don’t want the luxuries.

I very much do like a lot of things about minimalism. I have always strongly valued freedom and experiences over things, so I consider myself to be minimalist with respect to possessions too! But, I have to say that I don’t like this article. Specifically, I disagree with the writer that the USA today article is bad because it “breeds discontent.” First, people are either content with their lives or they are not. A short article publishing some numbers is simply information that we thankfully all have the freedom to read and do with as we please. So I don’t like the writer’s paternalistic tone or his suggestion that the public cannot emotionally handle some basic facts about how much things can reasonably cost in America. Second, if someone reads the USA T article and suddenly feels very upset, I think they should be allowed to, and should not be judged for wanting more in their lives. Wages for most in this country are depressingly low, at a time when companies are reporting record profits and the stock market is booming, and that’s just not right. People should be free to feel mad when they are being treated unfairly, and when they are upset, they should speak up about it. In contrast to this writer, I hope people read this article, get mad, and call their congressmen.

So glad to see someone with some common sense comment! I was getting angry while i continued to read this article. If you are jealous of some who has a corner office then you should talk to them and figure out how they got there and then maybe you can get your own corner office!

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The American dream is not that specific. The American dream is this: When you live in another country with little freedom (because the government does not allow you to reap the fruits of your labor) you come to live in America where you have the ability to be successful, whatever you dream you have the freedom to do it.

…”does not allow you to reap the fruits of your labour”; you mean pay taxes for FREE healthcare, FREE education, effective public transport, MODERN infrastructure and all those other pesky things that benefit ALL rather than only those who can afford it? Your American sense of freedom is a pup that has been sold to you and keeps you on someone else’s treadmill to fund their dream. And what freedom is there in that?

On the Facebook preview for this post, it specifically says, “Those of us who have chosen to define happiness and security apart from $250k mortgages…” I came here with the same complaint of condescension. I am in Washington, DC where a studio condo goes for $250k and my $350k VERY fixer-upper small rowhouse in a less-desirable neighborhood was a steal. My family prioritized being in the city to continue our car free lifestyle and reduce out overall environmental footprint over moving an hour away from our workplaces to spend on transportation any small amount we would save on housing (not to mention commuting time). I come here for tips on decluttering and getting a new mindset regarding my possessions, not to be preached at about my mortgage.

“And I don’t think I ever singled out mortgages in the article above,” yet
“[t]he notion that a family of four must own a $275K home…” is the beginning of one of your sentences in the post. I don’t think you are being purposely disingenuous but try to listen and see where someone might be coming from instead of immediately getting defensive and saying something that isn’t correct.

Thank you for this excellent, thoughtful and absolutely true post and for clarifying what the American Dream actually is. All of your points about the results of this crazy thinking that the American Dream simply equals materialism are on target. Great post and great perspective.

I live in England (not London) very happily on the equivalent of $22,000 net. Debt free, dont drive, embarking on a more minimalist lifestyle, I eat well, sleep soundly at night and worked all my life. Life is experience not schedules, bank loans, 4x4s and the accumulation of material possessions. “Keeping up with the Jones” and The “American Dream” is a dream people need to wake up from. Life is what happens when you are not fighting in the queues on black Friday for a cheap tv that more than likely involved some form of child labour in China during it’s production.

Great article. Why? It seemed to get a lot of people thinking about life, values and money and how to manage the three. Great to hear from those who are doing well, regardless of income. For those who are hung up on the $130k, get over it and learn from the others.

Although I understand where you are coming from based upon your website I think the USA today article and the numbers represented are fairly accurate as to what most married people dream as a good life – to be able to dine out 1-2 per week, take a couple vacations(or own boat,etc), and save as much as they can to try to have a nice lifestyle in retirement. The vehicle and education expenses are probably a little high but otherwise seem like the overall numbers are in the ball park.

I was wondering about the reference to 250k mortgages in the article. I lived in the NE most of my life and for 250k you can get a fixer upper, meaning more money down the drain in repairs. I recently moved to FL and try as we might we couldn’t find something in below that range and I don’t have a big house. I rented for a while but was paying about the same a month minus the taxes. It’s pretty discouraging how unsustainably expensive basic things are getting from food to education to a decent roof over your head. Smh.

Well, Without dreams, people perish, a lot of people are perishing right now even at the young age of 20 because of article like this. This country has blessing no other countries enjoy, I always encourage people to be the best they can be, to be successful. God said, I wish above all you prosper….If I’ve to attempt something, might as well attempt something great. The goal is to get to a point that time and money cannot control you, if somebody don’t like it, the goal hasn’t change, they are not paying your kids’ education or when you get lay off, they’ll help pay your rent or mortgage. You cannot give up your dreams because your friends don’t like it, what kind of a friend is that ??

I recently delivered a sermon called:’Waking Up From the American Dream.” Jefferson wrote: “the pursuit of happiness,: And that is the carrot that those ‘in charge’ (who are often billionaires – and as an aside, if one earns $100K a year and saves it all it would take 10,000 years to amass that sum (interest left out) – that those in charge wave in front of the rest of “We the People.”

Our Founders – so wise beyond their elevated stations in life and greatly prescient – wrote as the introduction and instruction for this new nation:
“We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquilty; provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
In a couple of days, a new book will be published (see Amazon) titled: “The Indomitable Freedom Quest: Honoring America’s Sacred Trust.” It provides a base, a target, and how to realize the dream of our Founders.

I have a friendly bone to pick with the general opinion here on this post and its comments and at this (wonderful) site in general. And that is regarding “vacations”. Here everyone, including Joshua, poo poos the value of vacationing – the kind you take that is a substantial distance from home for a few weeks a year.
I think taking a vacation should be considered an essential item. People who never leave their little ‘zone’ or area end up, years later, with a very stunted and skewed view of both life and the world. And no – you simply cannot remedy that with the Internet and books – you need to get out and see other regions of the state the country and the world.
We budget our vacation monies just behind mortgage and food! We have taken our kids rafting on the Maoyan River in China, Barrow AK, Hawaii’s Volcanoes NP, swam with them in the Dead Sea on the Jordanian side and many more places abroad as well as to all fifty continential states. We live very simply so we can provide them with these life altering experiences and promote in them and us a greater understanding of why people think and act the way they do. Seeing, for example, the vast emptiness of N Dakota you begin to grasp why the people living there think and act the way they do. In seeing life in rural China you understand more why the Chinese behave and think as they do etc.
We live in a four bedroom colonial in suburban Philadephia and yes we have tidy mortgage on it. We insulated the house well and lowered our heating costs substantially and we believe in sweaters in the winter and using fans before air conditioning on all but the worst nights.
What we DON’T do and never have, is fill our home with stuff. Much of what we have is ‘old’ furniture we have refinished that has come from family or thrift stores. We eat well – we buy a lot from local farms in season but we do not go crazy buying expensive organics shipped across the country or high cost cuts of meat. I love champagne mangos and papayas for instance but I buy them maybe once or twice a year. Instead we eat apples and pears and other less expensive fruits in the winter. And in season berries and other fruits in the summer.
Our cabinets and surfaces are not filled with sit around stuff from Home Goods or TJ Maxx yet we have some lovely classic pieces that will stand the test of time and improve with age .
We are a one income family who makes very very very far from $130,000 a year. We hire almost no one to do anything because my husband and tackle most things ourselves. And have honed our skills so we do a safe and professional looking job on nearly everything. As of now we have one child in grad school ( we assist but mostly she pays her own way and also lives very simply) and one who is an undergrad – state school (we pay and he helps with part time work) and lives in a dorm- no loans.
You can live a simple life and still take some pretty awesome ( as my son puts it) vacations. In fact we believe it is an absolutely essential part of educating your children and yourselves to be informed caring people…..

Merf56, I am in total agreement. For me and my husband, travel is an ‘essential’ budget item. It has made me who I am, and allowed me to learn from how others live.

My idea of minimalism has always been to buy very carefully, and then take good care to keep those items for as long as possible. For example, my car is 18 years old, we just repaired our refrigerator ourselves (20 years old), etc.

As for daily purchases, we don’t go out much, instead buy organic food and savor it. Not a lot of anything, but mindful enjoyment is the key!

The American Dream is the freedom to do what you want and the initiative to do it! My family should not have to apologize for working hard and getting in a position that we can go on vacations, live in a nice home, drive a SUV, pay for our children’s college and save for our retirement. We shouldn’t be at risk of having it taken away because someone else choses to do it differently and now wants what we have. We went to Junior College while living at home so we could pay it off as we went. We went to a state college and worked 2 jobs over the summer before going away, lived with several people to keep rent down and worked while people taking out student loans went on spring break to fun places, we picked up their shifts! I’m not jealous now and I was too busy to be jealous then. Security was what we wanted and our choices have allowed our children to grow up knowing their in state college and 1st car (used of course) will be paid for so they can be set up for the future as a productive contributing adults. They are required to work while at school and taking on debt is not an option. If they want masters degrees they need to figure out a way to pay for it without taking on debt (ie scholarships, jobs that pay for it etc) We have done several job moves to get ahead financially. We didn’t divorce when we sometimes wanted to. We probably missed out on some potentially great opportunities but they were too risky for what we wanted for our families. Our methodical way is not for everyone, it was hard, but those were our choices and we made them work. We were happy while on the climb and we are happy enjoying the view. The American Dream is having the ability to dream and then taking the initiative to follow it and accepting the good and bad of having pursued it!

Here in the Philadelphia suburbs ( not the fancy locales) you cannot find a home for 275,000 or if you do it is barely habitable and would cost 200,000k to bring it to habitability. How do I know this? My daughter and her husband are trying to buy their first house… The first one they looked at for 268,000 needed: a new roof( extensive water damage inside) ,new oil tank, new hot water tank, new heater, all new interior piping, asbestos removal, shoring up of the main beam, and the bathtub was cracked through and useable in the only bathroom. We thought it was a fluke! Boy were we and they wrong!! They have been out every Saturday since and all homes under K300,000 in modestly safe neighborhoods had various incarnations of many of the above flaws. They would need massive amounts of cash on hand to be able to prepare to make the needed essential repairs. They have even made low ball offers and were turned down…
I agree K130,000 sounds like a great deal of money but when you both have large student loans, a long drive to the only job you have been able to find that allows your spouse to get to his or her job with the same commuting distance so you both need a reliable car( not an SUV), are trying to put money immediately into your 401k so it builds up like responsible adults…. Well, it really isn’t the enormous sum it seems. (That said we don’t make that and we go abroad on vacation every year and have a large old home… But we went to college when it was cheap, started out with a pension though that is small and spent most of our married life before cell phones, iPads, kindles and huge cable bills!! ( DD and SIL do not have cable and use dumb phones that only text btw) …..
Smugly denigrating people struggling as if they were all crazed spendthrifts throwing their money in the street is not exactly constructive and in fact my daughter found this article rather insulting as do I.

It sounds like they’re try to tackle EVERYTHING all at once? That surely is a lot of pressure. Maybe a small apartment till student loan is paid off? You know the upkeep on a home. Sometimes you have to wait till you get your ducks in a row.

I agree that in certain locales say CA, 275k would find you in the ghetto. However, I’m from Philadelphia and moved in NJ. Keep in mind much of the US isn’t like that. I know I’m NJ the middle class lives terribly. Still you’d need 70k for a couple to live well…not 130k! Also, you can get a condo for much cheaper than that…and not a fixer upper either! Some are worried about status and “need” the single home they won’t even get to enjoy. Yes I’ve known my share of folks who whine about debt after making decisions that are outright insane. My husband and I lived with his family while he paid down education debt. I understand that isn’t always possible, but there are ways. At one point we even rented space in a house.Sure, the elitist types were probably scoffing at us while we lived that way, but we paid everything off, went on vacation and enjoyed life. Also, 17k on entertainment? Really? Come on! People half of the time dig their own graves then cry when they find themselves buried alive.

It’s all about what you want. There is no right or wrong. I chose to live 70 minutes from Nashville. I was able to buy a 2 bed cottage for 50K, which needed some updating, but still livable and cute. My daughter can walk to the library, pool etc. You can live any way you want, but when you’re in up to your eyeballs, and one of you hears
“sorry but you have cancer” it all goes away. .I’m happy with this new way of life. It’s so easy. My friends in Nashville have to pay 230K for the same size home as mine and fight traffic everywhere, send their kids to private schools just for safety. I will never go back to that.

Interesting article. Money may not not be everything but it’s a lot! One of the happiest times in my life we had just escaped the overpriced neurotic northeast. We lived in a cheap teeny tiny condo literally half the size of our current spot. We lived wisely, remained months ahead on rent, paid off the car, ate mostly organic, had good health, disability and life insurance, explored the beautiful land around us,and yes even went out and saw a few amazing shows. My husband was making about 33k and we lived on that quite well saving most of what I made teaching 8 dance classes weekly. I just remember feeling like I needed nothing more to be happy…

What if you have both? A great salary of 130k AND an eye towards simple happiness, reduced consumerism, do it yourself mentality, and not keeping up with the Jones’s? We do. It allows us to put a lot away in savings. Or enjoying life experiences instead of too much stuff. And helping others. A great salary and work ethic aren’t bad. The mindset for what that affords you and how you choose to live and spend are everything.

The so-called American Dream referenced is no longer germaine to many people today. Rather than the fixed vision harking back to the growth of industry, consumerism and post-war home ownership as universal “dreams” to be attained, a new and less acquisitive mindset seems to be arising. The article doesn’t create any feeling of lack or envy for me. Nor does it make me feel a sense of tribal unity with those who (like me) fall well below the “necessary” $130K income stipulated. It is simply irrelevant. It’s the opinion of someone stuck in the past. A dinosaur, soon to look around and realize that: A) There is no universal “dream” and B) Happiness and fulfillment are not functions of income.